Patent GB-1277504-A (GB)
Title: Feeding articles to machines
IPC: B65C1/02
Filed: 1969-11-12
Abstract: 1277504 Sheet feed and delivery apparatus XEROX CORP 12 Nov 1969 [12 Nov 1968 (2)] 55306/69 Heading B8R In a machine wherein feeding means forward flat articles one by one to transport means carrying each article through a processing apparatus operating on the articles, means are provided to uncouple the feeding means from its drive when the supply of articles on the feeding means is exhausted or reaches a predetermined minimum. As shown, flat articles, such as magazines, newspapers &c. produced, e.g. by a printing machine 2, are delivered to a longitudinally-reciprocating table 20 upon which a supply of articles can accumulate and which, via a gate 30 allowing the passage of the bottom article only, and feed rollers 8 forwards the articles one by one to a transport conveyer 4 of a labelling machine 5; the labelling machine 5 operates at a faster rate than that at which the articles are produced by the printing machine so that after a time, the article-supply on the table 20 becomes exhausted whereupon the drive to the table is uncoupled as described below until a supply again builds up on the table 20. At the front end of the table 20, a recessed part 21<SP>1</SP>is intermittently connected to a vacuum source to grip the bottom-most article and feed it forward. A pivoted latch 45 on the table 20 has a tongue 48 engaging with clearance a recess 39 in a slider 36 reciprocated by a connecting-rod 35 driven by a motor 16, engagement of the recess shoulder 391 with the tongue 48 causing the table 20 to move forward with the slider 36. An adjustable stop 42 on the slider 36 engages a drive arm 41 on the table 20 to move the table rearwardly with the slider. Near the end of the rearward movement of the table 20 an arm 68<SP>1</SP> thereon closes one switch 68 in the circuit of a solenoid 61. If the supply of articles on the table is exhausted or reaches a predetermined minimum, a sensing shoe 78 normally resting on the topmost article has dropped, closing a second switch in the circuit of solenoid 61, so that closure of switch 68 causes the solenoid 61 to be energized to actuate a lever 52 which moves against a stop 51 on the latch 45 to pivot the latch and release the tongue 48 from the recess 39 so as to uncouple the table from the slider 36. A spring 23, Fig. 2, biases the table in the rearward direction against an adjustable bumper 27. When the supply of articles again builds up on the table 20, the shoe 78 rises and opens its switch so that lever 52 is no longer operative and latch 45 is free to re-engage the slider 36 causing a resumption of article feeding to the conveyer 4. An arrangement is also described whereby the feed is also disconnected when a stack of labelled articles are delivered by a delivery conveyer 6. Means to uncouple the feed if an article jam occurs, may be provided. Delivery apparatus.-A sensing device 80 closes a switch in series with switch 68 when a stack of articles on the delivery conveyer 6 reaches a certain level. This causes uncoupling of the feed drive by energizing the solenoid 61 as already explained and also, through a timing device, causes indexing of the conveyer 6 by a motor 6<SP>1</SP>after articles on the transport conveyer 4 have reached the stack. Suitable means are provided to recouple the feed means when removal of the stack has been completed. Control of apparatus to which sheets are fed.- Means may be provided wherby the supply of labels to the machine 5 is interrupted whilst the article feed device is uncoupled from its drive.